Foot support



L. GUTVIANN.v

FOOT SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED Iu'mz II. I9I8.

1,417,989. Patented May 30, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFE.

LUDWIG GUTMANN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

Application filed June 11, 1918.

T 0 @ZZ fwrom it may conce/n Be it known that I. Lnnwio GUTMANN, a citizen of the United States, and residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have inventedA the new and useful lmprovement in Foot Supports, of which the following` is a specification.

This invention relates to foot supports, and as to some of its features, is an improvement on the subject-mattei' of application Serial Number 174,017, iiled June 16, 1917.

The correct adjustment of a pad in a shoe is a ditlicnlt task, requiring experience, because a slight displacement from the correct position of only a small fraction of an inch may cause discomfort. It is comparatively easy to adjust the pad and its support or insole to the foot, but when the insole and pad are placed in the shoe, this position will not be found exactly correct, and this is so much more the case the less freedom the foot has in the shoe. This is for the reason that the muscles of the enclosed foot are not now free to spread in all directions, and the shape of the muscles present a different configuration, calling for a modification from the position found when the adjustment was made outside of the shoe, which latter condition is a first approximation or adjustment.

One of the objects of this invention, therefore, is to provide a foot support which is so constructed, and in which the pad is so attached and adapted for adj ustment, that these adjustments can be made very readily, and which when secured in position will not be displaced.

Another object is to provide a pad adapted to conform to the shape of the foot under the pressure of the foot thereon.

Another object is to provide a foot support comprising a base, a pad thereon, and a cover adapted to conform to the shape of the 'toot and to the shape of the pad under the pressure of the foot.

A large amount of foot troubles are due to defective construction and manufacture of shoes. ln all shoes the projection of the upper and liningV over the insole will leave a space between the insole and the outsole; in the Goodyear welt shoe, this space is increased by the presence of the welt and the upstanding lip on the insole, to which the welt is attached. This space is usually filled with a somewhat plastic mass, such as cork composition, which will tiow under the pressure of the foot and the heat of the body. New the metatarsal bone heads lie on a some- Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30, 1922.

Serial No. 239,469.

what diagonal line across the insole, and the area on the insole to which the pressure is transmitted is usually not over one square inch. The weight carried by these five metatarsal bone heads, and the pressure on the restricted area across the insole, varies in adults from fifty pounds, during ordinary walking, to as much as 'two hundred pounds when running or going up a flight of stairs. The result is, therefore, that the filling will not only flow, thereby causing an objectionable depression in the insole under the bone heads, which is liable to cause the transverse arch of the foot to be broken or impaired, but this will cause a wear of the outsole under these bone heads, with the resultthat the life of the sole is considerably shortened.

Another object, therefore` is to provide a distributor adapted to be placed on the insole under the metatarsal bone heads to support the same and transfer the weight to a large area oit' the insole. I

Further objects will appear from the detail description Vtaken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a plan of a foot support embodying this invention;

Figure Q is au enlarged section on the line 2h2, Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan of one forni of pad:

Figure el is a sect-ion on the line 4wd, Figure il;

Figure 5 is a plan otl Figure G is a section ure 5;

Figure 7 is a plan of still another form of pad;

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8, Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a plan of one forni of distributor embodying this invention;

Figure 10 is al side elevation of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a section 011 the line 11-11, Figure 9;

Figure 12 is a plan of another form of distributor embodying this invention;

Figure 13 is a. side elevation of Figure 12;

Figure 111 is a plan of still another form of distributor embodying this invention;

Figure 15 is a section on the line 15-15, Figure 14;

Figure 1G is av plan of still another form of distributor embodying this invention;

Figure 17 is a section on the line 17-17, Fivure 16;

Figure 18 is a lView similar to Figure 17,

another forni of pad; on the line 6 6, Figbut showingl still another form of distributor embodying this invention;

Figure 19 is a section showing` a method of attaching the pad to the base ot the insole or support; and,

Figure 2() is a section showing the operation of the distributor.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, and ymore particularly to F igures l and 2, the to'otsupport comprises an insole consisting oi? a base l and a cover 2 connected together at one edge in any suitable manner, as by rivets 3. The cover projects some distance beyond the base at its Ytrent end and one side, as shown. The base may be of leather, canvas or any other suitable material, having a sutlicient body to form a lirm support for the pad, as hereinafter described. This base is provided with two series ot perforations, one series ot perforations 4lbeing located near the front of the insole, while the other series 5 is located near the heel of the insole. The series l extend transversely across the insole the form oi a rectangle, While the series 5 are positioned to form a triangle. The cover is constructed of a soft pliable material, such as soft leather taken from the grain side ot the hide, so as to be pliable enough to contorno to the pad, as hereinafter described.

One form of pad is shown in Figures 3 and 4i. It comprises a base 6 of canvas, tabric or the like, having' mounted thereon. a bodyv 7. This body comprises a yielding` structure having a viscid impregnation. A suitable material for the body is Woven or knitted fabric which. in the form ot layers, is stitched togetherj as shown at R. to conform proximately to the shape of the pad desired. This body is then treated by dipping the same in a viscid impregnatinp; couipound, such as parafiine, ozocerite and lrindred waxes, beeswax, rosin, other tree gums, used either singly or in combination. The base 6 extends beyond the bedrv so as to form a perfor-able flange 9. whereby this pad may be secured tothe insole.

The pad is placed on the base il and is secured in position in any suitable manner, such for instance as by stitches l0 pffissinny through the flange 9. and the pcrtorations in the base. lhen the cover is laid over this pad, and the pad placed in the shoe, the pressure ofthe foot onthe pad. tl'irouojh the cover, together With the heat oi the b'odv. ivill cause this pad to conform to the shape of .the toot; Whilethe cover itself. on alccountv ot'being sottand pliable. will conform to the shape of the pad. The pad will thus,bevingcorrect relation with respect to tl toot It will, ot course, be understood of this invention. In this construction the pad comprises an envelope consisting oit a bottom piece ll, and a top piece l2, stitched or secured. together in any suitable manner, so as to retain the body i3 in position, and so as to rin a flange "nl, The body 1.3 may be, ot any suitable material, such as sott porous rubber. The envelope is preferably constructed ot a fabric. as to provide a periorable flange, whereby the pad may be secured in posit-ion heretofore described. by titches or the like passing through the and threaded through the perforations in the base of the insole.

lli'ures 7 and S show still another cinhodiment ot this invention. ln this construction a base l5 of 'fabric or any other suitable material. has cemented or vulcanixed thereon. a pad body i6 which may be ot any suitable material, such as soft rubber, and so as to provide a perforable tlange l. This pad may be secured in position as shown in Figure l. by' stitches passing` through the. flange and threaded through the peritorations in the base ot the insole. This iorm ot pad may be secured by the stitches passingtl'irough a row of pertorations olf each set t and 5.

Tn Figure T9 the pad is secured in` position by Wire staples i8 passing through thc perliorable flange and threaded through the peitorations in the base of the insole. 'llhese Wire staples may be of the form used in applying tags to clothing'.

The set of perforations in addition to performing; the 'function as securing,T a pad, such as shown in Figures 7 and 8, may also serre to secure a Wedge-shaped pad 19, .Figure l.. this pad being' secured in position by stitches or staples passing' throughV the pad Hanse, and through one oit the lines oit ijior'torations beinir arranged angularly on the base of theheel. Tt will be noted that there are two angularlines oi perforations, so that the pad may be positioned in either annular position. on the base.

Referring now to Figures 9 to 'i8 inclusi ve, and 20, arranged below the metatarsal bone heads, and on the usual insole 2O ot the shoe, is a distributor.- This distributor. as shown in Figures 9 to 13 inclusive, comprises a series ot metallic Wires or bars 21. secured together at their ends in t-he fonstruction .shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11, by Wires 22, Weaving these Wires or bars together, and as shown in `lfigrure 13. by clips 23 of channel t'orm, pressed over the ends ot the Wires or bars. The distributor is slightly bowshaped, as shown in Figures 10 and 13, so as to vtorm a bridge transverse ot the insole. This bridge, when placed on the insole of the shoe, directly underneath the metatarsal bone heads, as shown' in Figure 20', forms a transmitting element tor transmitting the pressure to the extended area over and across the insole. The resultis, therefore, that the pressure is transmitted over several times the area of the insole o'l" the shoe as before, With the result that depression ol thc insole will be avoided, thereby gettinga stable foundation Which Will not only avoid breaking of the arch, but also prolong the life of the outsole of the shoe. By making the distributor bow-shaped, it will have considerable spring and, therefore, form a yielding cushion which will not only insure comfort, but which will also transmit the load to the outside edges of the shoe Where the Welt is. This distributor can be covered in any suit-- able manner; thus in Figure 20, it is covered by the extension of the foot support 1 2, of Figure 1.

In the construction shown in Figures 14 and 15, the distributor comprises a series of slats 211, perforated to receive fastenings, such as thread or Wire 25, so as to secure thc slats together in overlapping relation. The slats may be constructed of any suitable material, such as Wood, or even metal.

The distributor shown in Figures 16 and 17 is made of rubber, which is molded to provide arecess 26 and ribs 27, adapted to rest on the insole of the shoe. The recess 26 runs in a direction somewhat diagonally along the distributor, so as to place this recess directly underneath and along the line of the metatarsal bone heads. This forms a yielding cushion directly underneath the metatarsal bone heads, While the ribs transmit the Weight and load to the insole. In the construction shown in Figure 1S, the recess 26 has projecting therein a rib 28, which is perforated as shown at 29, so as to forni a yielding air cushion along the lines of the metat-arsal bone heads.

It Will thus be seen that the invention accomplishes its objects. The foot support is not only so constructed as to permit rapid adjustment. but firm positioning of the pad therein, but this pad and the cover of the insole are adapted to shape themselves to the foot, under the pressure of the foot thereon, and under the heat of the body, so as to conform to the actual conditions for the curing of the defect. The distributor is constructed so as to support the metatarsal bone beads and transmit the Weight and load over a large area` thereby not only securing permanence of the shoe form, and decreasing Wear, but also preventing breaking of the arch.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the details Without departing from the spirit of this invention. It is, therefore, to be noted that this invention is not to be limited to the specific construction shown and described.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A foot support, comprising, a perforated base, and a perforable pad 4adapted to receive fastening means engaging the perforations on said base.

2. A foot support, comprising, a perforated base, and a pad on said base, said pad having a `flange adapted to receive fastening means engaging the perforations on said base.

3. A foot support, comprising a base, and a series of pads on said base, said base having sets of perforations for the respec tive pads, adapted to receive fastening means to secure said pads on said base.

4. A foot support, comprising a base, a series of pads on said base, said base having sets of perforations for the respective pads, adapted to receive fastening means to secure said pads on said base, and a cover extending over and adapted to conform to said pads.

5. In a foot support, an arch-correcting pad having perforable means adapted to receive means independent of the pad for se curing said pad in position.

6. Ina -foot support, an arch-correcting pad having a flange adapted to receive means for securing said pad in position.

7. In a foot, support, an arch-correcting pad having a. perforable attachino iange.

8. In a foot support, a. pad having an envelope adapted to provide an attaching ange.

9. In a foot support, a pad having an envelope adapted to provide a perforable attaching flange.

10. In a foot support, a pad comprising a yieldingbody and a viseid impregnation, adapting the pad to conform to the shape of the foot.

11. In a foot support, a pad comprising a yielding fabri(l body and an impregnation viscid at the body temperature, adapting the pad to conform to the shape of the foot.

12. In a foot support, a pad comprising a laminated` yielding body and an impregnation viscid at tbe body temperature, adapting the pad to conform to the shape of the foot.

13. In a. -foot support, a pad comprising a yielding body and an impregnation viscid at the body temperature, adapting the pad to conform to the shape of the foot, and an attaching flange on said body.

In testimony whereof I atliX my signature this 23d day of May, 1918.

LUDWIG GUTMANN. 

